Like so many of us in the industry, 2022 Bill Esposito Award winner Meghan Barone didn't even know what Athletic Communications was when she unsuspectingly began her career in high school.

Meghan just wanted to help promote her Bangor Area High School cross country team on Twitter. She used the Photoshop skills she learned in her high school Year Book class and began creating graphics and teaching her cross country and basketball coaches how to use twitter.

It was not until her time at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ that Meghan that her passion for creating graphics and social media could be a career.  

During her sophomore year, Meghan began working with Centenary Sports Information Director Megan O'Brien. It was then that her hobby would become a career aspiration. Barone worked closely with O'Brien on everything from game management to social media and graphics.

As her career as a two sport athlete in cross country and basketball, Barone has come to the understanding that her passion for sports does not have to come to an end when after the game's final whistle.

A career in Athletic Communications would allow the lifelong sports fan to stay close to the action, while continuing to tap into her interests in art and technology.

So far the transition to athletic communications has been a successful one, as Barone has relied heavily on her time management skills and commitment to be the best, which served her well as a student-athlete.

EC: Who are your mentors in the business?
MB: Megan (O'Brien) was really the one who got me to understand that this could be a career. She said, 'If you like this stuff, I can help you.' I would say definitely my coaches helped me boost my confidence into this part of the industry. When I was a freshman, I was very shy and timid, and working with my coaches and with Megan, and the support of my parents, they really helped me to become the person I am now.
Megan has been there for me no matter what the circumstance is, even if it's just a little question here or there about game day stats or something like that. She is always there to support me. That's the biggest thing. No matter what it is, she will tell me her honest opinion and help me work through the issue. Without Megan, I really don't know where I would be today, especially in this aspect. I can't thank her enough.

EC: How did you balance school and work? What keeps you sane?
I have certain day where I will go to work and I come back, then I have certain days where I will go to work and go directly to an athletic event and help Meg run it. It does get a little complicated but I do find time where I can. It can be 10pm and I'm working on graphics or at 9am, I can be helping Meg set up for meetings. It's really just balancing it and getting myself used to real life in general. This is a great practice run for me, I would say.
I also play a lot of video games, believe it or not. I play a lot of Madden and there are a couple of Call of Duty games I like to play just to relax and decompress. I also like to bake and cook a lot as well.

EC: What is the best advice you would give to student-workers?
Get as much experience and absorb as much as possible. I know, for myself, I tried to get involved in a lot of different things on campus, whether it's helping set up or do graphics or just being there for opinions. No matter what, just try to get involved in anything you can. It really does help with the experience in the long run. You never know when you will need that experience down the road.

What they say about Meghan:
Megan O'Brien, Sports Information Director, Centenary University
"Meghan came to me probably at the worst possible time to do an internship in athletic communications (spring of 2020 semester and the start of Covid). However, I quickly realized I had someone special and could see the bigger picture. When sports got shut down and we were forced to pivot and find a different way to keep producing content, Meghan wanted to help and made my job easier by turning her video project into a graphic we could still do with everyone scattered to home.
"Throughout her time working in my office, she asked the right questions, wanted to learn more and made herself available for whatever I needed. I think the perfect example of this came in the fall as she was off running in a cross country meet while we had field hockey and soccer doubleheader at home. She knew I was potentially going to be shortstaffed for those games and called me while she was on the way back to campus from the meet to check on me. Despite me assuring her we would figure it out and she should relax after a race, I looked up just before the soccer game started and there was Meg trotting across the field ready to help.
"I think whoever gets Meghan on their staff is getting an energetic individual who is going to be excited to learn and see what she can do to help. I can't wait to see her take on the challenges of our field and succeed."

Rose Haller, Women's Basketball Coach , Centenary University
"Meg took advantage of her collegiate career by participating in two sports and challenging herself to gain new experiences. She expanded her knowledge of social media and game day operations by working closely with our Sports Information Director. Her growth from freshman to senior year was noteworthy."